Waverley Council to Vote on Palestine Procurement Motion

Waverley Borough Council will vote next week on a motion about Palestine, human rights and the way the council spends and invests money.

The motion, from Green Party councillor Steve Williams, goes to Full Council on Tuesday 10 November at 7pm in the council chamber at The Burys, Godalming. It was published with the meeting papers on 2 November (Waverley Borough Council, Council agenda, 10 November 2026). Cllr Williams represents Godalming Binscombe and Charterhouse.

What the motion asks the council to do

If it passes, the council would:

• reaffirm that its own procurement and financial activities comply with the law and reflect its ethical procurement commitments, including “the risk of contributing to serious violations of international law”
• ask the Executive to review how its existing ethical procurement policy is applied, including how human-rights risks and government guidance are weighed in buying decisions
• ask the Leader to write to the Surrey Pension Fund and the incoming West Surrey Council on responsible investment
• have the review’s outcome reported back to Full Council and passed to West Surrey Council

The motion does not ask the council to cancel any contract or name any company. It accepts that foreign policy, defence and trade are for the government, and says the council’s responsibility is how it “uses public money, procures goods and services and manages or influences investments” (motion text).

What it says first

Before its proposals, the motion asks the council to note several things, including:

• the “immense and continuing human suffering” of Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the West Bank
• “growing concern nationally and locally” about links between public bodies, companies and finance and the Israeli occupation, settlement activity and military operations
• that some Waverley councillors have signed the Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s Councillor Pledge for Palestine

It also welcomes the Foreign Secretary’s statement to the House of Commons on 8 September 2026. The motion summarises that statement as including the government’s position that the continuing Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory is unlawful, and measures on trade with illegal settlements.

Why West Surrey Council is named

Waverley is due to be replaced by the new West Surrey Council in April 2027. That is why the motion asks for the review, and the letter on responsible investment, to be passed on to it. The motion can only ask the Leader to write to the Surrey Pension Fund; it cannot direct the fund.

Also on the agenda

The same meeting is due to vote on a budget of £14,454,118 to buy 48 affordable homes in Farnham: 40 at Waverley Gardens, on Waverley Lane, and 8 at Farnham Oaks, south of Wrecclesham Hill. The Executive approved the purchase on 6 October, subject to this vote and the consent of the West Surrey Shadow Authority. Our earlier report has the detail: 48 affordable homes at Waverley Lane and Wrecclesham Hill.

What it means for you

Members of the public can put a question to Full Council. The deadline is 5pm on Wednesday 4 November, under the council’s Procedure Rule 11. Written answers are published with the questions in a supplementary pack by 5pm on Monday 9 November.

The meeting is open to the public and will be webcast at waverley.gov.uk/committees. We will report the result.

Sources

• Waverley Borough Council, Council agenda, 10 November 2026 and its agenda frontsheet, dated 2 November, for the date, time, venue, webcast, item 9 and the public question deadline.
• Motion from Councillor Steve Williams, for every quotation and the four resolutions.
• Waverley Borough Council, councillors, for Cllr Williams’ party and ward.
• Waverley Borough Council, report on the acquisition of affordable homes at Waverley Gardens and Farnham Oaks, for the 48 homes, the two sites and the £14,454,118 budget.